Paul Bartel

Paul Bartel (August 6, 1938 – May 13, 2000) was an American actor, writer and director. Bartel was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy Eating Raoul, which he wrote, starred in and directed.

Life and career

Bartel was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jesse and William Bartel, who was an advertising executive.^[1] Bartel was openly gay; this influenced his career choice, as he found himself more accepted and afforded more opportunities within the independent film industry than he would have in Hollywood.^[2]

Bartel directed 11 low-budget films, including two which attained modest celebrity: Eating Raoul (1982) and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989), both of which featured co-star and fellow Brooklynite, Mary Woronov. Perhaps the most exiting preview of Bartel's eccentric genius was the short film "The Secret Cinema" a paranoid delusional fantasy masterpiece of self referential cinema. Bartel and Woronov appeared together in 17 different films, including the 1975 cult film Death Race 2000, which he also directed; the 1979 cult classic Rock 'n' Roll High School; and Joe Dante's Hollywood Boulevard (1976). In the 1986 horror flick Chopping Mall, Bartel and Woronov reprised their characters from Eating Raoul.

Bartel made an appearance in Tim Burton's short film, Frankenweenie, as Victor's science teacher. Bartel directed ten movies, mostly low-budget comedies that he was hired to direct after the success of Eating Raoul. He sometimes contributed to the writing of these movies as well. He also made many guest appearances on TV shows.

Death

Bartel died May 13, 2000 of a heart attack two weeks after liver cancer surgery; he was 61 years old.

Tribute

The Belgian horror movie Calvaire paid a tribute to the late Bartel — the mad innkeeper character is named "Paul Bartel".

Filmography

• The Secret Cinema (1968) director
• Private Parts (1972) as Man In Park (uncredited); also: director
• Big Bad Mama (1974) as Guest at Fancy Party (uncredited)
• Death Race 2000 (1975) as Frankenstein's Doctor (uncredited); also: director
• Hollywood Boulevard (1976) as Eric von Leppe
• Cannonball! (1976) as Lester Marks; also: writer, director
• Grand Theft Auto (1977) as Groom
• Piranha (1978) as Mr. Dumont
• Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) as Mr. McGree
• Heartbeeps (1981) as Party Guest
• Eating Raoul (1982) as Paul Bland; also: writer, director
• White Dog (1982) as Cameraman
• Heart Like a Wheel (1983) as Chef Paul
• Get Crazy (1983) as Dr. Carver
• Frankenweenie (1984) as Mr. Walsh
• Not For Publication (1984) writer, director
• Into the Night (1985) as Beverly Wilshire Hotel Doorman
• Lust in the Dust (1985) director
• European Vacation (1985) as Mr. Froeger
• Chopping Mall (1986) as Paul Bland
• The Longshot (1986) director
• Munchies (1987) as Dr. Crowder
• Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) as Doctor, in "Recklss Youth" segment
• Shakedown (1988) as Night Court Judge
• Caddyshack II (1988) as Mr. Jamison
• Out of the Dark (1989) as Hotel Clerk; also: executive producer
• Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989) as Dr. Mo Van De Kamp; also: writer, director
• Far Out Man (1990) as Weebee Cool
• Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) as Theatre Manager
• The Pope Must Die (1991) as Monsignor Fitchie
• The Living End (1992) as Twister Master
• Desire and Hell at Sunset Motel (1992) as The Manager
• Posse (1993) as Mayor Bigwood
• Shelf Life (1993) director
• The Jerky Boys (1995) as Host at Tut's
• Red Ribbon Blues (1996) as Fred the Pharmacist
• Joe's Apartment (1996) as NEA Scout
• Escape from L.A. (1996) as Congressman
• Basquiat (1996) as Henry Geldzahler
• Lewis and Clark and George (1997) as Cop
• Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998) as Rex Webster

References

External links

• Paul Bartel at the Internet Movie Database
• Paul Bartel at Allmovie